Another step towards thoughtful planning in Long Branch

On Wednesday, January 31, 2018, our City Council adopted the Long Branch Neighbourhood Character Guideleins with the following amendment by Councillor Grimes.

“That the guidelines be used by home builders, the community, City staff, committees and appeal bodies to provide direction in their decision making as they develop plans, review applications for redevelopment and/or enhance the public realm. ” 

The Long Branch Neighbourhood Character Guidelines are an important document that will encourage Urban Design excellence on a neighbourhood level where dwellings fit harmoniously with the established character. This document was a result of a pilot project initiated by Community Council. All stakeholders were invited to participate in this two year project and the resulting document was a culmination of efforts between Stakeholders, City Council, City Planning and executed by SvN Architects and Planners.

Please take the time to familiarize yourself with this document and share it with your Long Branch neighbours who may be renovating or constructing a new home.

You can find the guidelines at Long_Branch_Neighbourhood_Character_Guidelines_Jan_31_2018

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GTAA to Dramatically Increase Noise over Long Branch

Recommendations are being considered to Noise Share and Noise Split over communities around Pearson Airport by the GTAA (Greater Toronto Airport Authority). Think of the loudest day this past summer for airplane noise, and imagine that every other weekend from May to October. This will have a huge negative impact on Long Branch if it is allowed to go through.


2015 2017by 2037
Number of passengers41 million47 million85 million

The number of passengers in and out of Pearson will double over the next 20 years. This means more planes and more noise over Long Branch regardless but the proposed Noise Sharing and Noise Splitting will make it a far greater impact. Airplane noise is a direct threat to our health and well being, quality of life, environment and property values.

In 1996, when the second North/South Runway was completed, Transport Canada issued an information bulletin that stated, “Airport management is proposing to use the new runway (15R/33L) primarily for landings to minimize noise impacts and has furthermore committed that operations on the new runway will be limited to those periods when weather mandated (strong crosswinds incapacitating use of the parallel east/west runways) or required due to other exceptional circumstances (existing north/south runway out of service, disabled aircraft, or other safety concerns).” It was never intended to be a regularly used runway as would occur under Noise Sharing and Noise Splitting.

What can you do now?

  1. Fill out a Noise Complaint each time you are bothered by loud airplanes overhead (see below)
  2. Be informed. Two recent reports outline the issues that are being discussed and options under consideration a) Best Practices in Noise Management – Executive Summary (Sept 2017) and b) Toronto Pearson Residents’ Reference Panel on Airport Growth and Noise Fairness
  3. Join the newly formed Long Branch Neighbourhood Association Airplane Noise Committee by contacting us through email: LongBranchNATO@gmail.com
  4. Access WebTrak. WebTrak is an online tool that provides near-real time and historical flight data so community members can see what’s overhead and monitor noise levels. You will see data from a noise monitor on top of James S. Bell School.
Make some NOISE yourself!

Register a noise complaint each time a low flying, loud plane flies over your home. It only takes a minute. Toronto Pearson Noise Management Office tracks and reports regularly on these complaints and will get back to you with the reason for the noise situation.

Register a Complaint

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A Step Towards Thoughtful Building in Long Branch

On Tuesday, November 14, the Etobicoke York Community Council unanimously passed a motion by Councillor Grimes to adopt the Long Branch Neighbourhood Character Guidelines. The motion included an amendment that the guidelines be used by home builders, the community, City staff, committees, and appeal bodies to provide direction in their decision making as they develop plans, review applications for redevelopment, and/or enhance the public realm. LBNA was at the meeting and deputed in favour of adopting the staff report recommendations. Read the Motion, Staff Report and Final Draft Guidelines.

The Long Branch Neighbourhood Character Guidelines will serve as a toolkit for reference to property owners to develop plans for new and renovated dwellings. A “How to Manual” was incorporated into the guidelines to provide a framework for how they are to be used. The Association has some concerns around the implementation, predictability and consistency of the process, however we see this as an important document that will encourage urban design excellence on a neighbourhood level, where dwellings fit harmoniously with the established character.

The guidelines go to City Council at the end of January 2018 for final approval.

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LBNA featured in Etobicoke Guardian

On November 14, 2017, the Association was featured in an article by Cynthia Reason in the Etobicoke Guardian. We look forward to sharing many more important stories and accomplishments about our unique lakeside community.

Follow this link to the Etobicoke Guardian article.

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